The instructor in mechanics took from his pocket the revolver with which he had armed himself, rather to show that he was ready for an emergency, than for any other purpose; and Dory was not sorry to see that he was prepared for the worst that was likely to happen. He had some very distinct views of his own, though he was not at all inclined to undertake any hazardous enterprise.
Dory led the way to the inlet where he had left the boat. From this place they could see the masts of the La Motte. She had anchored off Camp-Meeting Point, which was in the shape of a pear, with the small end next to the main land. The La Motte lay on the edge of the shoal which extended all the way along the shore to Bluff Point. She might have gone nearer to the shore, but her crew seemed to be afraid to risk it.
Dory asked the instructor to get into the boat, and he pulled down nearly to the entrance of the inlet. Then they hauled the boat into the bushes, and landed. Carefully keeping themselves out of sight, they obtained a fair view of the vessel. Something seemed to be going on upon her deck. The crew were lowering something into the water.
"What are they doing?" asked Mr. Jepson.
Before he had time to answer the question, one of the burglars shouted three times, calling "Angy." Dory ran to the head of the inlet, through the trees, for all the shore was wooded. He expected the call to be repeated, but he heard nothing for some time. Then he ran in the direction of the point. Disguising his voice as much as he could, he called to Mack. The answer came at once, and Dory hastened back to the entrance of the creek. The burglars had a good right to suppose their missing leader was on shore at the place where Dory had hailed them.
"They were putting the hatches into the water," said he, when he joined his companion.
"They have just dropped another into the water, and they are holding them with lines," added Mr. Jepson. "What are they going to do with them?"
"They are going to use them as rafts, and they are going ashore to look for their missing chief. They won't find him," replied Dory, laughing.
"But they will find us," suggested the instructor.
"I don't believe they will; for as soon as they are fairly on the shore, we will make our next move. There they go! Two of them are going to leave the schooner; and, according to my reckoning, there will be but two left on board of her."